Your Doctor Friends

Is Friendship More Important Than Family For Your Health? (Holiday Episode)

In the classic holiday film "It's a Wonderful Life", Clarence the angel says "remember, George, no man is a failure who has friends". In the holiday spirit, Your Doctor Friends took Clarence's words to heart, and present to you today the research behind how friendship keeps us healthy.

In today's episode, we highlight the growing amount of evidence that supports friendships as a key aspect of our health, and, conversely, how social and emotional isolation often leads to poor health outcomes.

The American Psychological Association summarizes, “given the clear benefits of friendship, psychologists say we should promote platonic social connection across society—including in school, at work, in public spaces (such as on public transportation), and through entertainment.”

So let's do that today, shall we? And after listening to the episode, maybe reach out to a friend with a quick text, a silly photo, or an invite to meet up for a treat together. It might just help you live longer ;)

And bonus dessert topic at the end, we talk about SOME GOOD NEWS in cancer treatment and survivorship!

Happy holidays from Your Doctor Friends! We hope you're safe, happy, and healthy :)

Resources for today's episode include:

An American Psychological Association article titled "The science of why friendships keep us healthy".

A Washington Post article titled "Friends can improve your health and well-being especially during the holidays".

A systematic review/meta-analysis in PLoS One from 2023 titled "Social isolation as a risk factor for all-cause mortality"

A Healio article titled "Cancer death rate drops by 33%, AACR report shows"

The AACR press release for the Cancer Progress Report.

The full AACR Cancer Progress Report 2023.

For more episodes, limited edition merch, or to become a Friend of Your Doctor Friends (and more), follow this link!

• This includes the famous "Advice from the last generation of doctors that inhaled lead" shirt :)

Also, CHECK OUT AMAZING HEALTH PODCASTS on The Health Podcast Network

 

Find us at:

Website: yourdoctorfriendspodcast.com 

Email: yourdoctorfriendspodcast@gmail.com 

Connect with us:

@your_doctor_friends (IG) Send/DM us a voice memo/question and we might play it on the show!

@yourdoctorfriendspodcast1013 (YouTube)

@JeremyAllandMD (IG, FB, Twitter)

@JuliaBrueneMD (IG)

@HealthPodNet (IG)

Why Are Z-Paks Prescribed?

Have you ever been 5 days into a cold, and you're just SICK OF FEELING SICK? Did you think "hmmm, maybe I should call my doctor, or hit up the local urgent care and see if they'll prescribe me a Z-Pak"?

What IS a Z-Pak? What does it do? Does it actually do anything? Is it something my healthcare provider gives me just to "do something"? What does the evidence show?

Friends, we know that it may feel like if the patient doesn’t “get something” after coming in for an appointment, that we have cheated them out of “real treatment”, or if we don’t order something that they can’t just get at home or at the drug store, that our role as physician doesn’t have value? Or that we have blown them off, or don’t care about their symptoms?

We want our patients to feel heard, and to feel better! Sometimes setting boundaries, and explaining that the treatment plan is JUST reassurance and expectant management is HARD.

So let's talk all about the most-prescribed outpatient antibiotic, AZITHROMYCIN! What is it good for (and what is it NOT)?

... and BONUS dessert topic at the end answers the question "does choosing reduced-fat dairy as opposed to full-fat have any value?"

Resources for this episode include:

An NBC News story about the recent mycoplasma pneumonia (walking pneumonia) outbreak.

An article by the American Academy of Pediatrics titled "CDC highlights concerns over inappropriate antibiotic prescribing for COVID patients".

A study by Washington University in St. Louis and the Pew Charitable Trusts titled "Inappropriate Antibiotic Prescribing for Adults Comes With Increased Risks".

A NEJM article titled "Azithromycin and the Risk of Cardiovascular Death".

The research page via Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute for Rita Mangione- Smith, MD, MPH (which includes links to the DART- Dialogue Around Respiratory Illness Treatment).

A NYT article titled "Are Low-Fat Dairy Products Really Healthier?"

The WHO webpage about "healthy diet".

The 2020-2025 "Dietary Guidelines for Americans"

The American Heart Association Diet and Lifestyle Recommendations.

A study/meta-analysis from Advances In Nutrition regarding Effects of Dietary Intake on Markers of Metabolic Health in Adults.

For more episodes, limited edition merch, or to become a Friend of Your Doctor Friends (and more), follow this link!

• This includes the famous "Advice from the last generation of doctors that inhaled lead" shirt :)

Also, CHECK OUT AMAZING HEALTH PODCASTS on The Health Podcast Network

 

Find us at:

Website: yourdoctorfriendspodcast.com 

Email: yourdoctorfriendspodcast@gmail.com 

Connect with us:

@your_doctor_friends (IG) Send/DM us a voice memo/question and we might play it on the show!

@yourdoctorfriendspodcast1013 (YouTube)

@JeremyAllandMD (IG, FB, Twitter)

@JuliaBrueneMD (IG)

@HealthPodNet (IG)

How Much Caffeine Is Too Much Caffeine?

Have you ever felt "over-caffeinated"? Did you feel jittery, shaky, and sense your heart was going a mild a minute?

Perhaps that feeling sneaked up on you? Keeping track of the exact milligram amount of caffeine we consume is tricky, especially when coffee caffeine strengths vary wildly, and many prepared beverages don't disclose the exact caffeine content.

Recently two separate wrongful death lawsuits were filed against Panera, citing that the high caffeine content of its "charged lemonade" contributed to sudden cardiac death. Scary stuff.

How can we know if we've consumed too much caffeine? What are caffeine's effects on our bodies? Should we be wary about consuming caffeine right before we exercise?

Thankfully, Your Doctor Friends are here to sift through the data, and present to you meaningful information so you can understand your risks and make informed decisions about your personal caffeine consumption.

And in our additional "dessert" topic, we talk about the progress (or lack thereof) of the FDA to ban menthol and other flavoring in tobacco products, in hopes of making cigarettes and flavored cigars less appealing to young people, and potentially save lives.

Don't forget, Your Doctor Friends are ALWAYS here to give you a boost ;)

Resources from this episode include:

A New York Times article titled "Energy Drinks Are Surging. So Are Their Caffeine Levels."

Another NYT article titled "Are Energy Drinks Safe? New Lawsuits Raise Questions."

An FDA article titled "Spilling the Beans: How Much Caffeine Is Too Much?"

A PubMed link to a review by the Food and Nutrition Board and the Institute of Medicine titled "Caffeine in Food and Dietary Supplements: Examining Safety: Workshop Summary."

A Neuroscience and Behavioral review article titled "A review of caffeine's effects on cognitive, physical, and occupational performance."

ACOG's committee opinion titled "Moderate Caffeine Consumption During Pregnancy."

An FDA press release regarding prohibiting menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars to prevent youth initiation, significantly reduce tobacco-related disease and death.

An AMA position statement from president Dr. Jesse Ehrenfeld regarding the delay in the FDA ban of menthol and other flavored tobacco products.

For more episodes, limited edition merch, or to become a Friend of Your Doctor Friends (and more), follow this link!

• This includes the famous "Advice from the last generation of doctors that inhaled lead" shirt :)

Also, CHECK OUT AMAZING HEALTH PODCASTS on The Health Podcast Network

 

Find us at:

Website: yourdoctorfriendspodcast.com 

Email: yourdoctorfriendspodcast@gmail.com 

Connect with us:

@your_doctor_friends (IG) Send/DM us a voice memo/question and we might play it on the show!

@yourdoctorfriendspodcast1013 (YouTube)

@JeremyAllandMD (IG, FB, Twitter)

@JuliaBrueneMD (IG)

@HealthPodNet (IG)

Is Sex Important For My Health? (with Lyndsey Harper, MD)

Crank up the Salt-N-Pepa, friends, cuz Your Doctor Friends are TALKIN SEX, BABY!

In all seriousness, Your Doctor Friends think that healthcare providers can do a better job making sexual health education and treatment more accessible and less stigmatized. Sexual health concerns, and sexual dysfunction are so prevalent, and deserve meaningful, evidence-based treatment strategies within reach.

So let's break down some stigma, and have a candid conversation about all things SEX!

We are so happy to welcome our guest, and expert in all things sexual health, Lyndsey Harper, MD, FACOG!

• Dr. Harper completed her OB-GYN residency in 2011 at Baylor Scott & White Health in Dallas, Texas, saw patients in private practice for seven years, and is now an OB-GYN hospitalist.
• Dr. Harper is Associate Professor of OB-GYN for Texas A&M College of Medicine, a Fellow of The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and a Fellow of the International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health.
• She is also the Founder and CEO of Rosy, which is a resource to connect the 84 million women in the US with sexual problems with hope, community, and research-backed solutions to improve their lives.
• She has been named Forbes Top 53 Women Disrupting Healthcare, People Newspapers’ 20 Under 40, a Top Innovator in North Texas for 2020 and a DBJ Top Woman in Tech.

And hey! Here's a special promotion just for our listeners!

• Get Rosy's Silver Membership (which includes all of Rosy's educational content, full access to the erotica library, and a personalized daily Wellness Plan) FREE FOR ONE MONTH by clicking this ROSY LINK or by going to meetrosy.com and using the promo code 'DOCTORFRIENDS'.

Resources in this episode include:

Dr. Harper's Texas A&M University bio page.

The International Society for the Study of Women's Sexual Health webpage.

"A Tired Woman's Guide to Passionate Sex" by Laurie Mintz, PhD.

"Becoming Cliterate" also by Laurie Mintz, PhD.

"Come As You Are" by Emily Nagoski, PhD.

A recent New York Times article titled "8 Sex Myths That Experts Wish Would Go Away".

For more episodes, limited edition merch, or to become a Friend of Your Doctor Friends (and more), follow this link!

• This includes the famous "Advice from the last generation of doctors that inhaled lead" shirt :)

Also, CHECK OUT AMAZING HEALTH PODCASTS on The Health Podcast Network

 

Find us at:

Website: yourdoctorfriendspodcast.com 

Email: yourdoctorfriendspodcast@gmail.com 

Connect with us:

@your_doctor_friends (IG) Send/DM us a voice memo/question and we might play it on the show!

@yourdoctorfriendspodcast1013 (YouTube)

@JeremyAllandMD (IG, FB, Twitter)

@JuliaBrueneMD (IG)

@HealthPodNet (IG)

Are Psychedelics The Next Big Thing In Medicine?

What do you think about psychedelics? Does your mind wander to late-60’s Beatles tunes? What colors do you see? Have you heard about their therapeutic uses in medicine?

Seems like hippy-dippy fringe medicine stuff, right? We're talking magic mushrooms, LSD, and ketamine (among other substances) here!

Can you guess which academic research institution has the most robust psychedelic research department in the US?

It’s the Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research!

A recent (11/16/23) Johns Hopkins Congressional Briefing, titled “What’s Next for Psychedelics” featured a panel of experts discussing psychedelics in medicine, and Your Doctor Friends think the future looks PROMISING!

Their discussion centered on the potential cost-saving benefits of utilization of psychedelics in treatment of a variety of conditions, including addiction, anxiety, depression (including that associated with Alzheimer’s disease), eating disorders, OCD, and post-treatment Lyme disease.

Are you ready to break on through to the other side and talk medicinal psychedelics with us??

Also, we end with a little dessert from Jeremy highlighting recent data recommending the benefits of routing iron level screening, given new data on the high prevalence of iron deficiency, and why you might want to bring it up to your healthcare provider!

Resources for today's episode include:

The Johns Hopkins Congressional Briefing Series page, with link to the 43-minute panel presentation titled "What's Next For Psychedelics".

A New York Times article about Johns Hopkins psychiatrist Dr. Roland Griffiths, titled "A Psychedelics Pioneer Takes the Ultimate Trip".

The FDA Draft Guidance document titled "Psychedelic Drugs: Considerations for Clinical Investigations. Guidance for Industry."

A Johns Hopkins Magazine article titled "Preparing for a new era of psychedelic treatment".

A New York Times article titled "More Than a Third of Women Under 50 are Iron-Deficient".

For more episodes, limited edition merch, or to become a Friend of Your Doctor Friends (and more), follow this link!

• This includes the famous "Advice from the last generation of doctors that inhaled lead" shirt :)

Also, CHECK OUT AMAZING HEALTH PODCASTS on The Health Podcast Network

 

Find us at:

Website: yourdoctorfriendspodcast.com 

Email: yourdoctorfriendspodcast@gmail.com 

Connect with us:

@your_doctor_friends (IG) Send/DM us a voice memo/question and we might play it on the show!

@yourdoctorfriendspodcast1013 (YouTube)

@JeremyAllandMD (IG, FB, Twitter)

@JuliaBrueneMD (IG)

@HealthPodNet (IG)

Can Gene Editing Cure Diseases?: Sickle Cell and CRISPR

Have y'all heard of CRISPR?? This revolutionary gene-editing technology has the potential to treat and possibly CURE genetic diseases. Recently an FDA advisory committee has recommended the use of this technology in efforts to cure symptoms of sickle cell disease in people! THIS IS HUGE NEWS!

In today's episode, Jeremy presents the context and backstory of sickle cell disease, and the ripple effects of using gene-editing therapy to treat it effectively. This could be a real game-changer for folks living with sickle cell disease, who only have access to supportive care measures to treat the devastating, and frequently deadly effects of this debilitating genetic disorder. Your Doctor Friends are excited, and you should be too! WE ARE LIVING IN THE FUTURE, FRIENDS!

The FDA's final decision on its approval of "exa-cel", the groundbreaking gene-editing technique to treat sickle cell disease is scheduled for December 8, 2023, right around the corner! Stay tuned folks, you can bet that Your Doctor Friends will cover more stories about this amazing leap in treatment for genetic disorders!

Finally, stay tuned til the end for a little "dessert" health headline story from Julie about using leftover antibiotics; the reason why people do it, and what the ramifications could be.

Resources for today's episode include:

A New York Times article "Panel Says That Innovative Sickle Cell Cure Is Safe Enough for Patients".

A Doc Wire News article "FDA Advisory Committee Endorses Safety of Exa-Cel in SCD".

The NIH website's page on "What Is Sickle Cell Disease?"

An article by the Infectious Disease Society of America outlining how antibiotics are "like gold" to some patients, discussing how personal beliefs and health care barriers drive inappropriate antibiotic use.

For more episodes, limited edition merch, or to become a Friend of Your Doctor Friends (and more), follow this link!

• This includes the famous "Advice from the last generation of doctors that inhaled lead" shirt :)

Also, CHECK OUT AMAZING HEALTH PODCASTS on The Health Podcast Network

 

Find us at:

Website: yourdoctorfriendspodcast.com 

Email: yourdoctorfriendspodcast@gmail.com 

Connect with us:

@your_doctor_friends (IG) Send/DM us a voice memo/question and we might play it on the show!

@yourdoctorfriendspodcast1013 (YouTube)

@JeremyAllandMD (IG, FB, Twitter)

@JuliaBrueneMD (IG)

@HealthPodNet (IG)

YDF Greatest Hits: What is a Food Coma? (Thanksgiving Edition)

POSTPRANDIAL SOMNOLENCE STRIKES AGAIN!

In this Thanksgiving-themed episode, Jeremy unpacks the science behind why we feel so sleepy after a big meal. What's the reason? Is it the tryptophan? Is it the sugar? Is it the time of day? Listen and find out :)

We are so thankful for you, our dear listeners! Enjoy restful time with your loved ones!

For more episodes, limited edition merch, or to become a Friend of Your Doctor Friends (and more), follow this link!

• This includes the famous "Advice from the last generation of doctors that inhaled lead" shirt :)

Also, CHECK OUT AMAZING HEALTH PODCASTS on The Health Podcast Network

 

Find us at:

Website: yourdoctorfriendspodcast.com 

Email: yourdoctorfriendspodcast@gmail.com 

Connect with us:

@your_doctor_friends (IG) Send/DM us a voice memo/question and we might play it on the show!

@yourdoctorfriendspodcast1013 (YouTube)

@JeremyAllandMD (IG, FB, Twitter)

@JuliaBrueneMD (IG)

@HealthPodNet (IG)

Why Are So Many Doctors Dying By Suicide? (with Carrie Cunningham, MD)

According to a recent article by Christina Frangou in the Guardian, "doctors are dying by suicide at higher rates than the general population. Somewhere between 300 to 400 physicians a year in the US take their own lives, the equivalent of one medical school graduating class annually."

This sobering statistic from the eye-opening Guardian article (aptly titled "US surgeons are killing themselves at an alarming rate. One decided to speak out") resonated with Your Doctor Friends, and we are fortunate enough to have the inspiration of that article, Dr. Carrie Cunningham HERE WITH US!

Dr. Cunningham is an endocrine surgeon at Massachusetts General Hospital and holds a professorship at Harvard. She was recently elected President of the Association of Academic Surgery. Her Presidential Address at the AAS 2023 National Meeting, titled “Removing the Mask” created quite a stir, as she shared her personal struggles with depression, anxiety, substance use disorder, and her connection to a friend and colleague (Dr. Christina "Tina" Barkley) who died by suicide.

Imagine getting up in front of thousands of your colleagues and baring the most vulnerable parts of yourself. It took tons of courage, and the YouTube video of her address went viral.

This week we try a bit of a “hybrid” format for Health Headlines. We just had to capitalize on this fantastic opportunity to speak directly with the subject of the article, and get her take straight from the source! Thanks for listening to this one, friends, it means a lot :)

Resources from the episode include:

The Guardian article, "US surgeons are killing themselves at an alarming rate. One decided to speak out."

YouTube link to Dr. Carrie Cunningham's Presidential Address at the 2023 Academic Surgical Congress, titled "Removing the Mask."

The 1973 JAMA article, "The Sick Physician. Impairment by Psychiatric Disorders, Including Alcoholism and Drug Dependence."

The Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes' Foundation website.

The Association of Academic Surgery's website.

Dr. Cunningham's professional MassGen profile.

For more episodes, limited edition merch, or to become a Friend of Your Doctor Friends (and more), follow this link!

• This includes the famous "Advice from the last generation of doctors that inhaled lead" shirt :)

Also, CHECK OUT AMAZING HEALTH PODCASTS on The Health Podcast Network

 

Find us at:

Website: yourdoctorfriendspodcast.com 

Email: yourdoctorfriendspodcast@gmail.com 

Connect with us:

@your_doctor_friends (IG) Send/DM us a voice memo/question and we might play it on the show!

@yourdoctorfriendspodcast1013 (YouTube)

@JeremyAllandMD (IG, FB, Twitter)

@JuliaBrueneMD (IG)

@HealthPodNet (IG)